Chapter 385: Receiving Merit

Riding the wind on a flying sword, after passing through one mountain peak after another, the two quickly arrived at the high mountain where the Xiaoyao Sect's Law Enforcement Hall was located.

The two Qi Refining stage disciples guarding the entrance of the Law Enforcement Hall saw two Foundation Establishment cultivators arrive here and hurriedly stepped forward to greet them.

"Greetings, Uncle!"

Although Song Xinyu hadn't had time to change into new dharma robes at the Merit Pavilion after establishing his foundation, and was still wearing the same Qi Refining stage cultivator attire as them, the two still quickly felt the powerful magic power that only Foundation Establishment stage cultivators had emanating from Song Xinyu, and immediately guessed that this Uncle in front of them should have successfully established his foundation not long ago.

Within the Xiaoyao Sect, there were tens of thousands of Qi Refining stage disciples, but those who could successfully establish their foundation every year were few and far between. Once successful, not only could one enjoy more than a hundred years of longevity, but one's status in the sect would also be very different. The eyes of these two looking at Song Xinyu couldn't help but reveal a trace of envy.

"Trouble reporting, just say that Song Qingming from Mount Funiu, Qinghe County, has come to pay a visit with a matter." Hearing Song Qingming say this, one of the cultivators quickly turned and walked into the Law Enforcement Hall. After a long while, he walked out respectfully.

"Senior Song, Uncle Liao invites you in."

A moment later, in the Law Enforcement Hall, a blue-clad woman looked at a head that was still somewhat lifelike, placed in a box on the table, her brows slightly furrowed as she spoke to another old man standing not far beside her.

"Senior Brother Liao, this head is Ye Shujie's. Didn't expect this demonic head to have been wanted by our Law Enforcement Hall for a hundred years, always without a trace, but today it was sent directly to our door."

The old man heard the woman's confirming voice, nodded, and hurriedly turned to Song Qingming, who was standing to the side, and said with a smile: "Fellow Daoist Song, rest assured. Since Junior Sister Fang has already confirmed that the head is real, the reward that should be given to you, our Law Enforcement Hall will definitely not be less.

However, this routine business needs to be recorded. The two of us still have to ask clearly what should be asked. Hope Fellow Daoist can understand one or two. Please say in detail where you encountered this demon, and how you beheaded this demonic head."

Song Qingming nodded slightly with a smile, pondered and recalled for a while, and said softly: "A few months ago, I went to the Fuyun Mountain Range to find a spiritual herb, didn't want to run into this person on the road. This demonic head happened to be being chased by a late-stage Foundation Establishment beast at that time. I didn't recognize him at first, and thought it was a fellow daoist who ran into trouble, so I took action to help him.

Didn't want to, after beating back that beast, this demon took advantage of my lack of preparation and attacked me directly, revealing his true nature. Fortunately, I had a second-tier mid-grade defensive spiritual talisman on me at that time, which blocked this blow in time, only then was he not successful. Speaking of which, it was truly somewhat dangerous. If I had been a little more careful that day, this one might have folded there.

Later, this demonic head saw that the sneak attack was not successful, and after fighting with me for dozens of rounds and still couldn't take me down, he wanted to flee. It's a pity that his skills were not as good as mine, and in the end, he was still caught up by me."

This set of rhetoric that had already been remembered very skillfully by himself, Song Qingming said it with a natural face, not red and not breathless. Even if he said it twice in a row, it did not arouse the slightest suspicion from the two Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Law Enforcement Hall.

Ye Shujie was after all a demonic cultivator who had once harmed one side. That someone could send his head to the Xiaoyao Sect was already a great happy event for the two in the Law Enforcement Hall. As for how Song Qingming killed this demonic head, it was indeed not an important matter for them.

It was just that, hindered by the rules in the Law Enforcement Hall, they still had to find a way to record the situation of the battle for later people to read more methods to deal with demonic cultivators. The Xiaoyao Sect still paid relatively more attention to this point.

That day in the Fuyun Mountain Range, Song Qingming intentionally let Long Feng leave the heads of Ye Shujie and the yellow-clad old man, just to get the reward from the Xiaoyao Sect. Since he came this time, he also took them to the Law Enforcement Hall by the way.

It's a pity that there was no arrest warrant for the red-clad man and that yellow-clad old man in the Xiaoyao Sect's Law Enforcement Hall. After Song Qingming entered the Law Enforcement Hall, he could only take out Ye Shujie's head alone.

This time, beheading the demonic cultivator was different from participating in the Great War of Yang Wuqi back then. The credit was all Song Qingming's alone, and there was no need to share it with others. Precisely because of this, Song Qingming not only received a thousand spirit stones in the Law Enforcement Hall this time, but also obtained five hundred merit points from the Merit Pavilion, which was also somewhat beyond his expectations.

After walking out of the Law Enforcement Hall, Song Xinyu, who had been following Song Qingming, finally couldn't help but speak:

"Seventh Uncle, you truly make me admire you very much, being able to kill a demonic head like Ye Shujie who has been famous for a hundred years alone. If my master knew about this, he would definitely have to come here in person to see you."

"This time it was also a coincidence that I happened to run into this demon. If we talk about strength, although this demon was not as good as me, it was not easy for me to kill him. It's a pity that this demon was somewhat contemptuous of me at that time, and I caught the opportunity.

In the final analysis, it is not something worth bragging about. You just know about this matter, and don't talk about it outside, so as not to bring trouble to ourselves in the future."

"Seventh Uncle, rest assured, nephew understands!"

Hearing Song Qingming say this, Song Xinyu also didn't feel much surprise. He also knew Song Qingming's intention not to publicize this matter. After all, although beheading a demonic cultivator could get the Xiaoyao Sect's reward, it would also offend other demonic cultivators. If Ye Shujie, this demonic head, had other demonic heads behind him, the Song family of Mount Funiu couldn't afford their tossing.

Song Qingming nodded with some relief and said: "Xinyu, you have just established your foundation and still need to stabilize your cultivation well. I have nothing to do here, so you go busy yourself first, no need to send me off."

"Seventh Uncle, after nephew established his foundation, I can apply for a half-year vacation from the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. In a few months, I want to return to Mount Funiu to visit you all. What do you think?"

"Fine! You haven't been back many times over the years. This time you have established your foundation and attained the Dao, no matter what, the family should celebrate for you. When the time comes, just send me a letter in advance."

After agreeing on this matter with Song Qingming, Song Xinyu bowed and turned his sword light to return directly to the spiritual mountain where he practiced.

After Song Xinyu left, Song Qingming slowly changed direction to go to another direction. Not long after, Song Qingming arrived at another spiritual mountain rich in spiritual energy of the Xiaoyao Sect.

"Fellow Daoist Song, seeing that you hadn't arrived so late, I thought you weren't coming today."

"Apologies, just went to visit my nephew in the family, delayed the time, kept Fairy Gao waiting for a long time."

This time coming to Mount Guyang, besides going to the Law Enforcement Hall to receive the reward, Song Qingming also had an important matter, which was to come and take back the five hundred merit points that Gao Yuyao promised to gift him before.

After bidding farewell in the Fuyun Mountain Range that day, Gao Yuyao had already agreed with Song Qingming that after returning to the Xiaoyao Sect, Song Qingming could come to find her at any time to fulfill the promise back then.

Before coming to Mount Guyang this time, Song Qingming had already sent a letter to Gao Yuyao in advance, making an appointment for her to come to the Merit Pavilion today.

Doing this, Song Qingming still intentionally avoided Song Xinyu, including coming to see Gao Yuyao, Song Qingming also came alone after sending Song Xinyu away.

This was also because he had already promised Gao Yuyao in advance to keep this matter secret. Once Song Xinyu knew, his master Huang Shengyang was also a person of the Huang family. If this was spread out, it was possible that all cultivators in the entire Qinghe County would know.

Gifting sect merit points was not something that could be operated individually; both parties had to go to the Merit Pavilion to complete it. Fortunately, the process of handling this matter was not complicated. Without spending much time, Song Qingming successfully obtained the five hundred merit points that Gao Yuyao transferred to his hand.

After the two walked out of the Merit Pavilion, Song Qingming asked softly: "Fairy Gao, don't know if Fellow Daoist Xu is on the mountain now? I haven't seen her for many years, and since I happened to come this time, I wanted to pay a visit."

Hearing Song Qingming mention Xu Ziyan, Gao Yuyao's face changed slightly, and she said slowly: "Two years ago, Master forcibly went into seclusion to impact the realm. Although she successfully broke through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment without danger in the end, she also injured the meridians in her body.

This time Master was injured somewhat severely. Senior Sister and I went to the Merit Pavilion to help Master find a few high-tier healing elixirs, but none of them had any effect. A few months ago, Senior Sister accompanied Master to the State of Wu, wanting to see if they could try their luck at the Star Gate there to find elixirs that could treat Master's injuries."

"Is Senior Liu really so severely injured? Back then, she was a savior to people like us; it is a pity that I have no opportunity to visit her now. I only hope she can turn this misfortune into a blessing."

Hearing the news of Liu Xingfeng's breakthrough and severe injury, although Song Qingming's face was very surprised, there was no big ripple in his heart. When he broke through to the seventh layer of Foundation Establishment back then, he also spent a lot of effort and also injured his own meridians several times.

Fortunately, there was that old fellow Lei Guang guiding him by his side at that time, and Song Qingming finally succeeded in breaking through this layer of realm by relying on the assistance of elixirs. Otherwise, relying only on Song Qingming himself, I'm afraid his cultivation would still be stuck at the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment now.

"Fellow Daoist Song, rest assured. After Master and the others return, I will definitely help you pass the message. The sky is already late today, and I have an appointment with Senior Sister Duan to refine elixirs, so I won't invite you to the cave dwelling. Next time when you come to Mount Guyang, you must give face and come sit at my place."

"Then many thanks to Fairy!"

After leaving Mount Guyang, Song Qingming did not return directly to Qinghe County, but returned to Yangshan Market again.

Returning to Guyang Tower, Song Qingming was just about to return to his guest room to rest for a while, didn't expect that just after going to the second floor, he was stopped by a gray-clad boy who was not very old.

"Senior Song, Shopkeeper Fang invites you to go over. He said the things you want have already been prepared."

"Fine then, you go back and reply to him first, I will come over myself later."

The gray-clad boy, seeing that Song Qingming had already agreed to this matter, hurriedly nodded happily and walked down the stairs directly, leaving Guyang Tower.

After Song Qingming returned to his room, he tidied himself up slightly, changed into a set of lighter-colored daoist robes, and arrived at a shop named "Jade Tower Pavilion" in the market.

The gray-clad boy, who had already been waiting in the shop for a while, saw Song Qingming walk in and hurriedly stepped forward to lead him into the pavilion in the back courtyard of the shop, where he met a round-faced old man with a fat figure.

"Fellow Daoist Song, the one hundred sets of materials you want, I have collected almost all of them. You take a look to see if there are any problems with these materials." As soon as the fat-faced old man saw Song Qingming, he immediately smiled and took out a red cloth bag.

"Fellow Daoist Fang is polite. Song and Fellow Daoist are not dealing with each other for the first time. Since you have already looked at it, I think there should be no problem."

Song Qingming said while opening the bag and scanning it carefully for a few glances, then untied a storage bag from his waist, took out dozens of mid-grade spirit stones from it and placed them on the table, then put away the cloth bag in his hand and walked out directly.

"Shopkeeper Fang, money and goods are cleared. If there is nothing else, I will go first."

This time Song Qingming handed in Ye Shujie's head and exchanged for five hundred merit points. Plus the merit points Song Qingming obtained from Gao Yuyao not long ago, the Song family now had enough merit points in the Merit Pavilion to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill.

However, wanting to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill, having merit points alone was not enough; it also required nearly eight thousand spirit stones to go to the Merit Pavilion to exchange. This was also not a small amount of spirit stones for Song Qingming. Now, although there were still quite a few valuable spiritual items on Song Qingming himself, those things were relatively special and could not be sold at will to exchange for spirit stones.

Since there was no way to directly take out so many spirit stones to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill now, Song Qingming could only wait until he returned to Qinghe County to think of other ways. When the time comes, he would see how many spirit stones could be gathered from the family's Treasury Pavilion. In any case, the most difficult merit points to obtain had already been gathered. As long as he could spend more time, spirit stones would naturally be gathered sooner or later.

Wanting to buy elixirs to improve cultivation, wanting to gather spirit stones to exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill, and wanting to find ways to improve the spiritual vein of Mount Funiu, all these things required quite a few spirit stones. Without accident, Song Qingming would have to worry about spirit stones again like he did back then.

Precisely because of this, after Song Qingming came to Yangshan Market this time, he went directly to the Jade Tower Pavilion to purchase a pile of high-tier talisman-making materials. Fortunately, as the largest market in the State of Wei, collecting these things here was not a difficult thing to do. Song Qingming only collected the things he wanted in the Jade Tower Pavilion, a shop he was relatively familiar with.

Now that he had already purchased a pile of talisman-making materials, he intended to wait until he returned to Mount Funiu to seize the time to start making talismans to earn spirit stones. Looking at the bag of talisman-making materials bulging on his body, Song Qingming returned to his guest room with satisfaction, tidied up his items, and left Yangshan Market directly.

Over the past ten years, because Lei Guang had always been by his side, Song Qingming had never dared to reveal the ability of that remnant map in front of him, and his life had always been somewhat strapped. If it weren't for the fact that he had saved quite a few spirit stones before, plus the salary issued to him as the clan leader by the family every year, Song Qingming might have almost planned to sell the magic tools on his body.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 386 =====